Streetsblog CA
Streetsblog LA
Mandatory Helmet Bill Is Gutted: Now Asks for Study
The mandatory bicycle helmet bill, Senator Carol Liu's Senate Bill 192, has been dropped—or rather amended. Instead of requiring bicyclists to wear helmets, it calls on the Office of Traffic Safety to conduct a study of bicycle helmet use.
April 10, 2015
CA’s Draft Transportation Plan Says Drive Less, Stop Expanding Hwys
The California Transportation Plan 2040 [PDF], currently in draft form, officially recognizes what many have been saying for a long time: the state cannot keep building highways, and its residents cannot keep driving as much as they do now, if California is going to reach its own climate change goals.
April 7, 2015
Welcome to Streetsblog California
It's been over seven years since I wrote the "Welcome to LA Streetsblog" post at the first non-New York Streetsblog site. A lot has changed in those seven years. After over a century of car-centric planning, the City of Angels is pedaling away from its reputation as the "car-culture capitol of the world."
April 7, 2015
California Assembly: Bill Would Allow “Traffic School” for Bicycle Violations
A bill that would allow bicyclists who are ticketed for traffic violations to reduce their fines by attending a traffic safety class was introduced in the California Assembly last week. Assemblymembers Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) and David Chiu (D-San Francisco) amended A.B. 902 to repeal a provision in the vehicle code that currently prohibits such diversion programs except in the case of “minors who commit infractions not involving a motor vehicle for which no fee is charged.”
March 30, 2015
Fighting Climate Change Is Not Hurting CA Economy: It’s Contributing
Despite predictions that California's climate change policies would destroy its economy, recent data seems to show that the opposite is happening.
March 27, 2015
120 Groups Call for More Funding for Active Transportation Program
A broad coalition of organizations called today for California to increase funding for walk and bike projects. More than 120 organizations signed a petition urging the state to increase its investment in the Active Transportation Program (ATP), citing cost savings and health benefits from better bike and pedestrian infrastructure and the low level of funding currently available.
March 25, 2015
In Mostly Sharp Editorial, Times Opposes Mandatory Helmet Law
Yesterday, the Los Angeles Times wrote a mostly thoughtful editorial against Senate Bill 192, Carol Liu's proposed mandatory helmet law for bicyclists. In the Times' opinion, there isn't enough evidence to show that helmets make bicycle riders safer to justify changing the law.
March 20, 2015
California Says It Is Committed to Increasing Biking, Walking
CalSTA, the state agency that oversees all state transportation departments including Caltrans, is committed to improving conditions for transit, biking, and walking, according to its Deputy Secretary for Environmental Policy and Housing, Kate White.
March 18, 2015
Two California Bike Advocacy Groups Win Bike Summit Awards
Congratulations to two Bay Area bicycle advocacy organizations who won top awards from the Alliance for Biking and Walking at the National Bike Summit in Washington, D.C., this week.
March 13, 2015
California Long-Range Transportation Plan: GHG Goals Are Elusive
Caltrans has been in the process of developing its long range transportation plan for the last two years. Now it has released the draft California Transportation Plan 2040 [PDF]. Public input will be solicited at workshops throughout the state in March and April, starting today in Sacramento.
March 10, 2015